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Reality check for game addicts

An American teen hospitalised after a four-day gaming marathon has been diagnosed with a serious case of Modern Warfare 3 addiction.

Tyler Rigsby, an Ohio 15-year-old, was locked in his bedroom for at least four days, emerging only to forage for snacks and take a quick shower.

His time in the bedroom was spent playing Call of Duty on his Xbox 360, and when he finally emerged he went with his mother to visit Jennifer Thompson, his aunt.

"It’s like he was looking at me but he wasn’t there. It was like he was looking through me. We were talking and I heard a thump and I looked over and he just fell,” says Thompson.

Tyler collapsed three times at his aunt’s house before he was taken to hospital and given fluids through an IV tube; he had been suffering from dehydration.

The teen’s mother has taken his Xbox, which seems like a logical step as gaming marathons have had dire consequences in the past.

Last month an 18-year-old Taiwanese man died after playing Diablo III for 40 hours straight at an internet café.

Only identified by his surname, Chuang, he booked a private room at the café at noon on July 13 and played until the morning of July 15 until an attendant came and found him resting on a table.

He stood up, took a few steps and collapsed. He died shortly after arriving at a local hospital, with reports speculating that long hours in a sedentary position created heart problems for Chuang.

Although it is obvious games are not the cause of death, it is clear that becoming over-absorbed in gaming can be detrimental to your health – so be warned: if you intend to game for days on end, keep a well-stocked pile of drinks and food nearby.

Or if you’re feeling exceptionally adventurous, go outside once in a while. At least open a window.